Remember me ( a poppy)

We have just returned from a long trip to Norfolk, about as far away from Devon as you can get. 

It is another beautiful part of the world , up near Holt in North Norfolk. This Blakeney ver close on the coast.

 

 

Unfortunately we were there for sad reasons as we said our goodbyes to my father in law, and began the sad process of dismantling a house and possessions built up over many years.

He loved Norfolk and lived there all his life. The North Norfolk coast was very special to him, I think He had more stones, and pieces of drift wood from the beach then even I have!

He was a real craftsman and as left his mark on many flint faced buildings in the local area. So it felt fitting that we said our goodbyes on a glorious day on the North Norfolk coast.

We also saw so many poppies, in fields and lining the roadside, it is such a sign of remembrance for so many reasons. They provide such a 'pop' of colour and joy in the world too, and grow on the most inhospitable of soils, so I thought I'd show you , how to paint a poppy today 

First I sketch out the flower

Then I spray the paper with water and add some yellows and reds around so that when the painting is finished it looks like some of the flower is merging into the background. I love watercolour for it's ability to do this.

Then leave everything to dry

Now to start on the petals. I use Indian yellow, cadmium orange, cadmium red and scarlet. I also use the white of the paper as the highlight.

Wet the whole petal and start with the lightest colour first, carefully getting darker, really look where the dark tones are.

 

Then simply move around the flower

Until all the petals are done, I have let some of the lower petals bleed out onto the paper too. Try to be in control of the water , but let the paint do it's own thing. Tricky ( I know!) 

Then leave to dry and paint in the center, Add your darkest darks here.

Finally I add the stem, and a few splatters of gold ink, and my poppy is painted .